Reversible deadlatch



Aug 1, 1950 F. K. HEYE 2,516,991

REVERSIBLE DEADLATCH Filed April 2,' 1947 v s sheets-sheet 1 Tcl.

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Aug. l, 1950 F. K. HEYER REVESIBLE DEADLATCH Filed April 2, 1947 n I5 Sheets-Sheet 3 llzlfl. 4.0

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFiCE REVERSIBLE DEADLATCH Frederic K. Heyer, Stamford, Conn., assigner to The Yale & Towne Manufacturing Company, Stamford, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application April 2, 1947, Serial No. 738,804

1l Claims. 1

This invention relates to tubular locks, and more particularly to a tubular lock of the type described and claimed in my Patent No. 2,157,853 granted May 9, 1939.

In my patent, I show a tubular lock in which is mounted a bolt body carrying a bolt head, the bolt body and the bolt head being adapted for sliding movement in the lock casing. The bolt body is adapted to be deadlocked in a spring projected position through the movement to dead center of the retracting means utilized for retracting the said bolt head. These retracting means are maintained normally out of deadlocking position by an auxiliary latchbolt sliding on a surface of the bolt body. Thus, with the auxiliary latchbolt projected, the bolt body is adapted for retraction when the bolt head impinges against a strike or the like. On the other hand, when the auxiliary latchbolt is held back by a strike or the like, the bolt body is deadlocked and cannot be retracted. This is the relation of the parts when the bolt head is within a strike opening and the auxiliary latchbolt is held back by the strike.

In the lock of my patent, I show a bolt head that is rotatable relatively to the bolt body. This makes it possible to use the bolt head and body in diiferent handed locks. However, the lock as a whole is not reversible for right or left hand operation because the auxiliary latchbolt is so constructed and located that it will prevent effective contact between the bolt head and the strike except when the lock moves in one direction toward the strike.

It is the object of my invention to contribute a lock. of the type described in my patent in which the mechanism is readily reversible` and more particularly, is readily reversible without the removal of the parts from the lock casing.

As a feature of my invention, I utilize a bolt body and bolt head constructed as in my patent so that the bolt head is readily rotatable relatively to the bolt body to either of opposed handed positions 180 apart. However, unlike in my patented `lock, the auxiliary latchbolt is so constructed and so related to the bolt body that in all positions of the bolt head relatively to the bolt body the auxiliary latchbolt will not prevent effective contact between the bolt head and the strike.

At the same time, the auxiliary latchbolt is always effective to be held retracted by the ing hub I'I of a retracting arm I8.

2 latchbolt will operate properly regardless of the position of the bolt head relatively to the bolt body. I, therefore, have a truly reversible lock.

It is a further feature of my invention that the bolt head may be rotated relatively to the bolt body when it is fully pressed inwardly relatively to the lock casing. Thus, while in the lock of my patent, the bolt head can only be moved relatively to the bolt body when the front of the casing is removed, in my present invention the bolt head is rotatable relatively to the bolt body when the bolt body is retracted inwardly into the casing together with the said bolt head.

I have thus outlined the general nature of my invention and its relation to the prior art in order that the description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that my contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of my invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject of the claims appended hereto. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the `conception on which my disclosure is based may readily be utilized as the basis for the designing of other structures for carrying out the several purposes of my invention.

Referring now to the drawings, Fig. 1 is a vertical longitudinal section through the lock of my invention showing the same within a door and with the bolt head and bolt body projected. Fig. 2 is a section taken `along lines 2-2 of Fig. 1. Figs. 3, 4, 5, and 6 are Sections taken respectively along lines 3 3, 4-4, 5--5 and 6 6 of Fig. l. Fig. '7 is a view of the parts ofFig. 1 showing the action when the auxiliary latchbolt is retracted by a strike. Fig. 8 is a section through the bolt body illustrating the mounting of the bolt head and the auxiliary latchbolt thereon. Fig. 9 is a front end view of the lock casing. Fig. 10 is an exploded View of the bolt body, the bolt head and the auxiliary latchbolt.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, and especially Figs. 1, 2, and 5, the casing of my lock is shown formed of two parts I0 and I I having rearwardly extending tail portions I2 and I3. The tail portions I2 and I3 aresecured to one another through means oi screws or rivets I4, sleeves I5 being placed about the screws or rivets to act as spacers between the tail portions I2 and I3. The said tail portions I2 and I3 are, moreover, formed with openings I6 for a rotating bear- In thisway the retracting arm I8 is adapted for rotation in fixed relation to the lock casina.

asiaeei.

At their front ends, the parts I and II of the lock casing are formed with outwardly extending ears I9 and 20 adapted for insertion in suitably formed slots 2I and 22 of a plate 23 that forms the front plate of the casing. Through means of holes 24, the front plate 23 is adapted to be secured by screws to a door in which the lock casing is mounted, as is well understood in the art. It will be well to note that the plate 23 is the sole plate at the front of the lock, thereby eliminating the double plate construction found in many prior art patents.

Mounted for sliding movement within the casing of the lock is what I term a bolt ybody 25. This bolt body may be a die casting or the like, and is best illustrated in Fig. l0. A bolt head 26, also best shown in Fig. l0, is formed with a'neck 21a terminating in a stud Z'I that is adapted to be inserted into a slot 28 ofthe bolt body. Since the stud 21 is larger than the U slot 29 leading from the slot 28, it is obvious that the `bolt head 26 may only be assembled and removed relatively to the bolt body 25'when -the bolt body is out of the casing.

A screw threaded bore 38, as best seen in Figs. and 10, is formed in the bolt body and leads to the slot 28. Once the bolt head 26 is assembled to the bolt body, it is maintained against rotation relatively thereto by a screw 3| within the threaded bore 38. When the bolt head 26 is projected fully or partially, its flat surface 32 coacts with a surface 3-3 of the bolt opening in the front plate 23, and will prevent Athe Abolt head 26 from turning, even with the screw 3l removed. As a matter of fact, this relation `of the front plate 23 to the bolt head is the 'sole means utilized in the lock of my patent to prevent rotation of the bolt head relatively to the bolt body.

In my present invention, the relationship .of the parts is such that when the bolt head and body are moved into a fully retracted position, the bolt head will vbe inward suiciently of the opening in the front plate 23 so that it is possible to rotate the bolt head26 .to change the hand of the lock. It is to `prevent `accidental changing of the hand of the as though retraction oi the latchbolt,v bythe nger of a mischievous person, that I utilize the screw 3I. Thus, the said screw will prevent rotation of the bolt head even when the said head and the bolt are fully retracted to a position allowing rotation of the bolt head. When itis desired to reverse the hand ofthe lock, I make it lpossible to do so by providing an opening 35 in the casing opposite which the screw I3l is positioned when the bolt body and the Vbolt `headlare retracted. Thus, the screw f3I is loosened, the bolthead rotated 180, and the screw driven home into rholding relation to the bolt head. It will be readily appreciated that the hand of my lock may thus be changed without removal of the parts of the lock from the casing and the changing oi certain of vthe parts.

The bolt body has pivoted thereto through Vmeans of a pin 36, a lever 3l that is pivoted at body and presses at its other end against a pin 4I `bearing at 42 on the lock casing, the spring being guided by the pin for part of itslength. l

As probably best seen in Fig. 7, a leaf spring 43 is mounted about a pin 44 carried by the bolt body 25, and bears against the upper surface 31a of the lever 31. It will be apparent that through this action, the lever 3l is forced downwardly and tends to move the retracting arm I8 in a clockwise direction into the position of Fig. 7. In this position of the parts, the lever 31 and the retracting arm I8 are in what I term a dead center relation; that is, they are in such relation to one another that endwise pressure against the bolt head `23 will not be effective to retract the bolt head and the bolt body 25. When the relationship of the parts thus illustrated is reached, the bolt head and bolt body form a deadbolt and cannot be retracted except through rotation of the arm I8.

It is obvious that with the parts in the deadlocked position of Fig. l'7, it is impossible to retract the bolt head and bolt body by endwise pressure to allow closing of the door to which the lock is secured. Therefore, .it is necessary to maintain the parts out or" .the deadlocking position oi' Fig. 7 and in what I term the latching position of Fig. l. For the particular purpose, there is mounted on the bolt body l25 an auxiliary latchbolt 45. This auxiliary latchbolt 45 is best shown 4in Fig. 10, sections thereof being also well illustrated in Figs. 1, 3, and 4.

The auxiliary latchbolt 45 slides in a slot .25a of the bolt body 25 best seen in Fig. 10. Latch bolt .'45 is formed 'with a slot d adapted for ,aligne ment with a slot 46a. ofbolt body 25, and within which rests a spring 4'! best seen in Fig. 8, the spring being adapted to maintain the auxiliary latchbolt in the balanced projected position relatively .to :the ibolt body 25 shown in Fig. 8. It is very yreadily apparent that spring 4'1 will coact with the ends of Islots d8, `Ilia to resist the movement of the auxiliary latchbolt relatively to the bolt body 25 .from the position of Fig. 8. A secondslot 48 is formed in the auxiliary latchbclt45, andlthis slot coacts with a lug 49 on the lever 8l' as probably best seen in Fig. 7. Thus', in Fig. 7 it 4will be seen that the lug 49 rests `within the slot C48, allowing the lever '31 to move into deadlocking position. 'This is the position of the partsl when the auxiliary latchbolt is held retracted through coacticn with a strike designated lby letterfS, also best seen in Fig. 7. When the auxiliary latchbolt is projected into its position of Fig. 1, ywhich is the case when the door carrying the llock is open, then the cam surface 48a, of the slot 48 will eiect the camming of the -lever 8l 'from its position of Fig. "7 into its'position of Fig. l. It will now be seen that the lever 31 and the arm 'i8 are no longer in dead center relation, and that end pressure against the bolt `head will effect the movement `of the `bolt-body to the left in Fig. 1 into fully retracted position, the arm I8 andthe lever 3'! swinging freely.

Because of this relationship of the parts, it will be `seen that when the door to which the lock is applied is open,'the closing of the door may be accomplished because the auxiliary latchbolt is projected and holds thearrn I8 and the lever 3l out of deadlocking relation. Thus, upon contact of the beveled or cam surface 34 of bolt head 26 with the strike, the bolt head will be cammed rearwardly, carrying with it the auxiliary ylatchbolt 45. Of `cou-rse, once the Vdoor is closed, the bolt head ZS-will enter the strike opening 58 as best seen in Fig. 7, but the auxiliary latchbolt 45 will be held retracted Vin `its position also illustrated in Fig. 7. This will effect the'reIeaSe of the lever 31 for movement by the spring 43 into dead-locking relation to the bolt body 25.

The auxiliary latchbolt d is formed with a cam-shaped front end having cam surfaces 45d that lie symmetrically relatively to the longitudinal axis of the bolt head 25, the said longitudinal axis being designated by reference letter A in Fig. 6. In its full line position of Fig. 6 the bolt head 26 is shown adapted for one particular handed operation of the lock. In dotted lines the bolt head 26 is shown in its other handed position rotated 180. It will be noted that the auxiliary latchbolt is so related to the bolt head 26 that it will not obstruct the coacticfn of the bolt head with the strike S in either of the rotated positions of the bolt head. Thus, regardless of the hand of the lock, the auxiliary latchbolt will lie inwardly of the beveled or cam surface 311 of the bolthead 2t, and will not interfere with 'the coaction of the strike and bolt head. Therefore, the bolt body 25 may also occupy but one position in the lock casing in either of the two handed positions of the bolt head It will be readily apparent that all of the other parts of the lock will also remain in exactly the same relation in either of the handed positions ci the bolt head 26. Therefore, I have contributed to the art a truly reversible lock ci the auxiliary latchbolt controlled deadlocking type in which iull reversal is readily achieved by a simple rotation of the bolt head. It is, moreover, readily apparent that the bolt head may be rotated readily upon simple rctraction thereof 'and without removal of the iront plate of the lock casing.

In Fig. 2, I show the relation of my lock casing and the operating means thereof relatively to a thumb turn T and a lock cylinder C. The thumb turn and the lock cylinder are secured relatively to the lock casing by long screws 5l extending between the thumb turn mounting plate 52 and the cylinder C, as is well known in this art, the screws passing through ears 53 of the tail portions l2 and I3 of the lock casing. Also, as is well known in the art and as is fully described in my patent, the thumb turn T and the cylinder C are adapted to operate a connecting bar "54 that extends through a slot 55 of the bearing hub ll of the retracting arm I8. In this Way, the cylinder and thumb turn are adapted to rotate the bearing arm.

I believe that those skilled in the art will now fully appreciate the merits of my invention.

I now claim:

1. In a lock of the class described, a casing, a bolt body mounted for sliding movement insaid casing, a beveled bolt head mounted on said bolt body for rotation relatively thereto into different handed operating positions whereby readily to reverse the hand of said lock, and for sliding movement with said bolt body, an auxiliary latchbolt slidably mounted on said bolt body and adapted also for sliding movement with said bolt body, and said auxiliary latchbolt having its strike contacting end cam shaped and lying inwardly of the beveled surface of said bolt head relatively to said casing in either of the two handed positions of the bolt head, whereby said beveled surface contacts the strike in advance of said auxiliary latchbolt when said lock swings with a door in either of opposite handed directions tovvard said strike and in both the handed positions of said bolt head, and the strike contacting end of said auxiliary latchbolt extending normally substantially beyond the bolt body CIG whereby to be retracted a substantial distance by a strike.

`2. In a lock of the class described, a. casing, a bolt body mounted for 'sliding movementin said casing, a beveled bolt head mounted onsaid boltbody for rotation relatively thereto into different handed operating positions whereby readily to reverse the hand of said lock, and for sliding movement with said bolt body, spring means yieldingly pressing said bolt body and its bolt head into latching position, means deadlocking said bolt body against retraction from said latching position when said bolt bodyis projected to said position, an auxiliary latchbolt slidably mounted on said bolt body and adapted also for sliding movement with said bolt body, a portion of saidauxiliary latchbolt extending beyond said bolt body for contact with a strike, spring means pressing said auxiliary latchbolt into said extending position relatively to said bolt body, said extending portion being cam shaped and lying inwardly of the beveled surface of said bolt head relatively to said casing in either of the two handed positions of the bolt head, whereby said beveled surface contacts the strike in advance of said` auxiliary latchbolt when said lock swings with a door in either of opposite handed directions toward said `strike and in both the handed positions of said bolt head, and means whereby said auxiliary latchbolt when in said extending position eiects the holding of said bolt body deadlocking means out of deadlocking position.

3. In a lock of the class described, a casing, a bolt body mounted for sliding movement in said casing, a beveled bolt head mounted on said bolt body for rotation relatively thereto into different handed operating positions whereby readily to reverse the hand of said lock, and for sliding movement with said bolt body, spring means yieldingly pressing said bolt body and bolt head together into latching position, spring pressed means deadlocking said bolt body against retraction from said latching position when said bolt body is projected to said position, an auxiliary latchbolt slidably mounted on said bolt body and adapted also for sliding movement with said bolt body, a portion of said auxiliary latchbolt extending beyond said bolt body for contact with a strike, and lying inwardly of the beveled surface of said bolt head relatively to said casing in either of the two handed positions of the bolt head, whereby said beveled surface contacts the strike in advance of said auxiliary latchbolt when said lock swings with a door in either of oppou site handed directions toward said strike and in both the handed positions of said bolt head, spring means pressing said auxiliary latchbolt into said extending position, and means whereby said auxiliary latchbolt when in said extending position effects the holding of said spring pressed bolt body deadlocking means out of deadlocking position, the retraction of said auxiliary latchbolt relatively to said bolt body by the strike releasing said spring pressed bolt body deadlocking f means for movement to deadlocking position.

4. In a lock of the class described, a casing, a spring pressed bolt body sliding in said casing, a beveled latchbolt head mounted for rotation relatively to said bolt body whereby readily to reverse the hand of said lock, means for retracting said bolt body, said retracting means and bolt `body assuming a dead center relation to render said bolt body a dead bolt when said bolt body is projected by its spring relatively to said casing, an auxiliary latchbolt, means mounting said aux-1 iiiary iat chbolt 1on :said-.bolt-:bodyfand said auxiliary latchbolt having its strike contacting end-cam shaped and lying inwardly offthe. beveled surface of said tboltrheadrelatively tosaid-casing ineither offathe two .handed positions of the bolt head, whereby said beveledtsurfaceifcontaots thestrike in advance .of said auxiliary ylatchbolt when :said lock swings with a .door in either of lQplimsite handed directionsirtowardsaid .strike and in both the handed positions vof Asaid bolt head, @andthe strike .contacting end of. `xsai-d auxiliary latchbelt extending normally substantially `beyond `'the bolt body wherebyfto .be retracted ,a substantial distance .by a strike.

5.In;a dook .of the class described, a. casing,fa springzbressed .bolt bodyslidingin lsaid casing. a beveled latehbolt `'head mountedv for Arotation 'relatively to .saidbolt vbody whereby readily toreverse .the hand of said lock,.-a `retraoting arm, means of connection between vsaiduarm and bolt body for retracting the bolt fbody when .the arm is .rota-ted. .said arm, bolt 'body and-means of connection assuming-a .dead center .relation vto render said bolt body .a dead bolt 4when Asaid lbolt body is-projected 'by its spring, an auxiliary latchbolt, means mounting said :auxiliary latchbolt .on saidfbolt body, and said .auxiliary latchloolt having :its strike contacting end c am lshaped `and .lying inwardly .of the beveled surface of saidl bolt head 'relatively yto said casing in either of the two handed positions of the. bolt head, whereby said beveled 4surface contacts :the strike in .advanceiof said iauxiliary latchbolt when said lock swings with .a door in either of vopposite .handed directions toward said strike and .in both the handed .positions .ofv said boltihead, 'the strike :contacting end .of said auxiliary latchbolt v,extendingnormally .substantially .beyond the bolt :body whereby :to lbe retracted a substantial distance by a strike, .andmeans :whereby .said auxiliary latchbolt maintains :said arm, `loolt body Tand means of connection out of .dead center relation to '.permittlatching back of :said boltbody `when the latchbolt head .contacts .a strike..

f6. Ina lock .of .the class described, .a casing, a spring pressed bolt body sliding `in .said casing, a beveled ilatchbolt head mounted for rotation lrelatively .to said .bo-lt Jbody wherebyrea-dily to reverse the'fhandlof said lock, means fordeadlocking said bolt body against retraction when .it is projected by said spring, :an auxiliary latchbolt, means mounting said auxiliarylatchbolt on said vbolt body substantially' in the'. longitudinal .axial center thereof, aspr-ing lpressing said .auxiliary `latch'bolt .relativelyto said bolt -body .and vtoward .a strike, means vactuated by .said .auxiliarylatch- .bolt .when Vin its projectedposition relatively to said bolt body for maintaining said 'bolt body .deadlocking means out of `deadloclking position, `and said .auxiliary `latchbolt being. cam .shaped at its :strike contacting endrelatively ,to both sides of the longitudinal center `thereof :with .said ,cam shaped end lying inwardly of the beveled surface vof .said bolt headrelatively to said casing in either of the two handedpositions of the bolt head, whereby said beveled-surface contacts the 'strike in advance of saidauxiliary latchbolt Iwhen said lockswings with a door in .eitherioi C lpllosite handed directions .toward .sa-id strike fand `in both .the handed positions of said bolt head.

7. In a lock of the classsdescribed, a casing, a bolt .body mountedior .sliding movement in. said casing, va beveled bolt head mounted .on said :bolt body for: rotation relatively .thereto into .different operating lpositions whereby readily to .reverse the 8 l hand of -said lock, and for sliding movement jwith said bolt bod-y, a #front vplate-in said casinghaving an opening Afor guiding the bolt head in its sliding movement relatively tothe casing .and holding said bolt head against rotation, the Vretraction of said 'bolt body and belt head into said casing movingsaid bolt head into a position within said casing and inwardly relatively to said front plate wherein it may rotate relatively to said opening in said plate.

8. In a lock of the lclass described, a casing, Aa latchbolt mounted for sliding movement in said casing and having a beveled bolt head, said latchbolt being adapted for positioning relatively to said casing into different handed operating positions whereby readily to reverse the hand of said lock, an auxiliary latchbolt having its strike contacting end cam shaped and lying inwardly .of the beveled surface .of said beveled bolt head relatively to said casing in either of the two handed positions of said latchbolt, whereby said beveled surface of saidlatchbolt contacts the strike in advance of said auxiliary latchbolt when Isaid lock swings with a door in either fof opposite handed directions toward saidstrik-e `and in both the handed positions of said latchbolt 9. In a lock of the vclass described, `a casing, `a latohbolt mounted for sliding movement in said casing and hav-ing a beveled head for contacting a strike, means mounting said latchbolt for rotation relatively-to said casing intoitwo .opposed operating positions whereby readily to reverse the hand of said lock, an auxiliary latchbolt slidably mounted in said casing and having `a .cam surface .for .contactinga strikesaid cam ,surface being symmetrical .and with its .axis of symmetry .coincidental .with-the axis of .rotation of said latchbolt urelatively .to said casing, and ,said cani surface lying inwardly of the .beveled surface of .said latchbolt .relatively to .said casing in either yof the two handed .positions of 'the latchbo'lt, .whereby said beveled .surface of said latchbolt contactsithe 'strike in advance of said auxiliary `latdh'bolt when saidlock swings with a door in either Ior lopposite handed `directions "toward sai-d strike andin yboth the handed positions of said 'latcfhbolt 110. 'In ailockV o'feithe class described, a casing-a spring pressed: Ilatchbolt slidably mounted :in said casingsandca'dapted for rotatimny relatively :to said casing whereby readily :to reversevthe hand of said lock, :the Vionward.end nfsaidslatchbolt having Aabeveled surfaee-.iorucontact Iwith ,a strike, means for deadlocking said latchbnltagainstreiauxil'i-alyelatchbolt, means l mounting said .auxil- ,iary-latchboltin said substantially in the longitudinal axial `center .of said .latchbolt .a ,spring pressing A,said auxiliary latchbolttoward .a strike, means .actnatedby said .auxiiiarylatch- 4bolt --whenin itsspri-ng projected positionor maintaining said Ilatclobolt deadlocking `..means out ordeadlocking position, and said auxiliary .latchbolt .being cam shaped .at its..strike contacting end lrelatively. to both sides .of the longitudi- :nal .center thereof with .said .cam shaped end ly- .ing inwardly oi' the beveled .surface of said 'latch- .bolt relatively .to said casing .in .either of thetwo handed positions .of vthela'tchbolt, whereby said ,beveled surface .contacts the strike lin .advance .of said auxiliary .latchbolt when .said .lock .swings with a door in,either of `opposite handed'direcvtions V.toward .said .strike and .in ,both the handed ,positions `of. said latchbolt.

.ll. In ,a lock ofthe .class described, a casing, .a

spring pressed latchbolt slidably mounted in said casing and adapted for rotation relatively to said casing whereby readily to reverse the hand of said lock, the forward end of said latohbolt having a beveled surface for contact with a strike, means for deadlocking said latchbolt against retraction when it is projected by said spring, an auxiliary latchbolt, means mounting said auxiliary latchbolt in said casing, a spring pressing said auxiliary latchbolt toward a strike, means actuated by said auxiliary latohbolt when in its spring projected position for maintaining said latchbolt deadlocking means out of deadlocking position, and said auxiliary latohbolt being cam shaped at its strike contacting end with said cam shaped end lying inwardly of the beveled surface of said latchbolt relatively to said casing in either of the two handed positions of the latchboit, whereby said beveled surface contacts the strike 10 in advance of said auxiliary latohbolt when said lock swings with a door in either of opposite handed directions toward said strike and in both the handed positions of said latchbolt.

FREDERIC K. HEYER.

REFERENCES @NEED The following references are of record. in the 10 nie of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

